Adjustable holder and sign



July 11, 1939. J. WEINHART ADJUSTABLE 'HOLDER AND SIGN Filed NOV. 16, 1958 INVENTOR. y WEI/'Haal'.

ATTORNEY.

Patente-d July 11, 1939 f UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE i v6 claims.

My invention pertains to a changeable sign and holder and more particularly to an adjustable sign for displaying house address numbers, names, or advertising and the like.

It is an object of my invention to provide a sign comprising a holder or frame which may be conveniently adjusted or extended for receiving and holding a desired number of suitable character plates for exhibiting either in one direction or in two opposite directions.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a changeable sign for receiving and exhibiting indicia character plates comprising two resilient frame sections composed of side and end members which are substantially closed and tubular in cross-section having a slot opening toward the inside of the frame, said frame sections telescoping together adjustably, a center plate disposed in each frame section with its edges in the inwardly opening slots for sliding together in overlapping relation as the frame sections are telescoped together, means projecting from one end of each center plate for engaging the inside of a respective one of the end frame members for securing the center plate in the proper position therein, and character plates supported in the frame formed by the resilient telescoping frame sections by having the top and bottom edges clamped in the inwardly opened slots in the resilient frame members.

It is also an object of my invention to provide such a holder which may be conveniently adjusted, extended or changed for receiving and exhibiting any desired number of the specific character plates shown or of standard character plates which are readily obtainable on the market.

Further objects and advantages are within the scope oi my invention, such as relate to the arrangement and function of the related elements of the structure, to various details of construction and to combinations oi parts, elements per se, and to economies of manufacture and nu- Inerous other features as will be apparent from a consideration of the specification in conjunction with the drawing disclosing a specic form of my invention, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view showing my changeable sign holding frame completely assembled for holding and exhibiting a selected character plate; l

Fig. 2 is a iront elevational view of my changeable sign exhibiting a selected arrangement of characters;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view on line 3-3 thereof;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken on line 4--4 of Fig. 2;

' Fig. 5 is a fragmentary front elevational view showing one end of one of the frame sections provided with a iillet for lling a'blank space 5: supported therein; and f Fig. 6'is an enlarged View of one of the glass reflector elements which has been used in other signs but for which the specific character plates shownV are specially designed, which said plates 10; my sign holder is especially adapted to hold and exhibit.

Referring more particularly to the iigures of the drawing, it will be seen that my changeable sign comprises two frame members which are of 15j a suitable size and shape to telescope adjustably together for forming a complete frame of the desired length. :As shown, one of the telescoping frame sections comprises side frame members Ii joined by an end frame member I3 and the other 20V section frame consists of an end frame member l5 joining two side frame members H, extending from the ends thereof, for telescoping into the side frame members Il of the otherA frame section. For this purpose, each frame member is 25` made of a light gauge sheet metal selected for providing a suitable degree of resilience and suitably formed toY provide a substantially closed tubular conformation and flattened Vor non-circular in cross-section and having a slotted opening I9 3o toward the inside of the frame. Side frame memn bers Il are made slightly smaller in cross-section than the side framev members Il to provide for telescoping smoothly therein with the inwardly openingV slots IS in accurately aligned relation.

i A center plate 2i is provided in each frame section, and each centerl plate 2i is of a substantially rectangular shape and of a proper size for fitting into the inwardly opening slots I9 of its associated frame section. Means is provided 40- for securing one end of each center plate 2l in the end frame member of its frame section cornprising prongs 23 deformed out of the end of the plate as by stamping, cutting or slitting, in any suitable manner. The center plateV securing 45- prongs 23 are curled outwardly in laterally projecting relation from the plane of the plate and v are turned back for engaging the inside surface oi the associated end frame member for securing the center plate firmly therein, Vas may be 50 seen in Fig. 4.- As the two telescoping frame sections are telescoped together, the center plates l2| slide together in overlapping relation, as may be seen clearly in Fig. 3.

The telescoping frame sections are made of a 55` suitable height for receiving standard character plates 25 with the top and bottom edges thereof clamped in the inwardly opening slots I9 of the side frame members, as shown more clearly in Fig. 8. The side frame members Il and I1 are made to any desired length for supporting any number of selected character plates desired.

Each of the character plates 25 illustrated consists of an embossed plate 25 having apertures therethrough, and suitable glass reflector elements or prisms 21 are projected `through the apertures for reflecting or refracting light from an external source. As shown, each light re.- lecting or refracting element 21 comprises` a base 28 substantially larger than the aperture in theand a back-sheet 29 is secured or cemented thereon for holding the light reflecting elements in place in the plate. Such light reiiecting elements are arranged to outline the shape or conformation of the character to be represented, and the character is outlined in the plate as by pressing or stamping out the same.

In use, the desired characters are selected and then Varranged in the desired conformation or sequence in the two separated halves of the frame section. The loaded frame sections are then telescoped together, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Although only numerals are shown in Fig. 2, it will be understood that letters or other characters are readily obtainable and these may be mounted and exhibited in my changeable sign as desired and blank llets 3| may be inserted in blank spaces in the frame, as shown in Fig. 5. As shown in Fig. 3, character plates are inserted on opposite sides of center plates 2| for exhibiting signs in opposite directions, but it will be understood that my changeable sign may also be utilized for exhibiting characters in any other direction by simply omitting the character plates from one plate 25 side. Such an arrangement is suitable for mounting up flat against the wall of a building, where the frame may be supported by any clamping means for clamping rmly over the side members I l, as will be readily understood. When the tele- `1 scoping frame sections are loaded with character plates for exposing signals in opposite directions,

as shown in Fig. 3, the sign is especially useful` for mounting upon any suitable standard or post which may be driven into the ground for exhibiting the address of a residence place on the lawn adjacent the driveway, for example.

Because of the particular non-circular crosssection shape of the side frame members, a very desirable degree of resilience is provided which makes up a frame especially suitable for receiving character plates for exhibition in onedirection or twice as many character plates may be inserted and exposed on opposite sides for exhibition in opposite directions.

It is apparent that within the scope of the invention, modifications and diierent arrangements may be made other than herein disclosed, and the present disclosure is illustrative merely, the thereof.

I claim:

l. A changeable sign for receiving and exhibit f ing character plates comprising, two resilient telescopically engaging frame sections, the side and end members of said frame sections being of invention comprehending all variations sections telescope together, means for securing one end of each center plate in the end member of a respective one of said frame sections for securing each center plate in its proper position in a telescoping frame section, and indicia character plates supported in the frame formed by the resilient telescoping frame sections by having the top and bottom edges clamped in the inwardly opening slots in said resilient frame members.

2. A changeable sign for receiving and exhibiting character plates comprising, two resilient telescopically engaging frame sections, the side and end members of said frame sections being of a substantially closed tubular cross-section having a slot opening toward the inside of the t frame, a center plate disposed in each frame section with its edges in the inwardly opening slots for sliding together in overlapping relation as said frame sections telescope together, means projecting Vfrom one end of each center plate for engaging the inside of a respective one of the end frame members for securing the Ycenter plate in the proper position therein, and indicia character plates supported in the frame formed by the resilient telescoping frame sections by having the top and bottom edges clamped in the inwardly opening slots in said resilient frame members.

3. A changeable sign for receiving and exhibiting character plates comprising, two resilient telescopically engaging frame sections, the side and end members of said frame sections being of a substantially closed tubular conformation flattened or non-circular in cross-section having a slot opening toward the inside of the frame, a center plate disposed in each frame section with its edges in the inwardly opening slots for sliding together in overlapping relation as said frame sections telescope together, prongs deformed out of the end of each center plate for engaging the inside surface of a respective one of the end frame members for securing the center plate in a proper position therein, and indicia character plates supported in the frame formed by the resilient telescoping frame sections by having the top and bottom edges clamped in the inwardly opening slots in said resilient frame members.

4. A changeable sign holder for receiving and exhibiting character plates comprising, two resilient telescopically engaging frame sections of a height suitable for receiving character plates for exposing any desired characters, the side and end members of said frame sections being of a substantially closed tubular cross-section having a slot opening toward the inside of the frame for receiving the top and bottom edges of selected character plates, a center plate disposed in each frame section with its edges in the inwardly opening slots for sliding together in overlapping relation as said frame sections telescope together, and means for securing one end of each center plate in the end member of a respective one of said frame sections for securing each center plate in its proper position in a telescoping frame section.

5. A changeable sign holder for receiving and exhibitingcharacter plates comprising, two resilient telescopically engaging frame sections each comprising an end frame member and two side frame members projecting therefrom, the side vand end members of said frame sections being of a flattened tubular cross-section having a slot opening through the flattened inner side walls toward the inside of the frame, a center plate disposed in each frame section with its edges in the inwardly opening slots for sliding together in overlapping relation as said frame sections telescope together, and means projecting from one end of each center plate for engaging the inside of a respective one of the end frame members for securing the center plate in the proper position therein.

6. A changeable sign holder for receiving and exhibiting character plates comprising, two resilient telescopicall;r engaging frame sections, the side and end members of said frame sections being of a substantially closed tubular conformation attened or non-circular in cross-section having a slot opening toward the inside of the frame, a center plate disposed'in each frame section with its edges in the inwardly opening slots for sliding together in overlapping relation as said frame sections telescope together, and prongs deformed out of one end of each center plate and curled to extend laterally from the plate and back for engaging the inside surface of a respective one of the end frame members for securing the center plate in a proper position therein.

JOHN WEINI-IART. 

